NFHS-6 reveals progress amid nutrition challenges
The NFHS-6 report indicates mixed progress in India's child nutrition, with a decline in stunting and significant improvements in institutional births and vaccination coverage, attributed to better healthcare access, maternal education, and sanitation. However, wasting levels remain largely unchanged, and poor feeding practices, maternal time poverty, and the shift towards processed foods continue to pose challenges. The article emphasizes the need to strengthen frontline workers, ensure multisectoral convergence, engage men in childcare, and promote crèche models for sustained progress in child nutrition.
The NFHS-6 report indicates mixed progress in India's child nutrition, with a decline in stunting and significant improvements in institutional births and vaccination coverage, attributed to better healthcare access, maternal education, and sanitation. However, wasting levels remain largely unchanged, and poor feeding practices, maternal time poverty, and the shift towards processed foods continue to pose challenges. The article emphasizes the need to strengthen frontline workers, ensure multisectoral convergence, engage men in childcare, and promote crèche models for sustained progress in child nutrition.
Exam linkage
GS Paper 1: Social issues (Poverty and Developmental issues, Role of women). GS Paper 2: Governance, Social Justice (Government policies and interventions, Welfare schemes, Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Human Resources).
Syllabus mapping
This topic appears in Mains
Questions on Social Justice & Development come up regularly in GS papers. Practice writing an answer — and see exactly what earns marks.